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Fire History

Burning over 39,000 acres, the Half Moon Fire of 1929 was one of the park's largest

NPS/R.E. Marble

There has been a fire in Glacier National Park almost every year of its existence. The year with the most was 1936 (64 fires!) and 1964 was the only year with no fire on record. The summer of 2003 was the most significant fire season in the history of Glacier National Park. Approximately 136,000 acres burned within the park boundary.

Fires are a naturally recurring part of the forest lifecycle, but for us (park employees and visitors alike) fires are often an exciting, sometimes scary, experience. Below are images, stories, and information from past fire incidents to help create a bigger picture of what fire means to Glacier.

NPS Map/Dave Hammond

What parts of the park have burned?

Glacier is a patchwork of recent and historic burns, which contribute to its rich biodiversity. You may be surprised to see how much of Glacier's over 1 million acres has experienced fire.